Always look on the bright side of ageing
Researchers in China tend to be pessimistic about population ageing, particularly its economic consequences, says Li Zhao, a PhD student from the University of Science and Technology in eastern China.
It's vital younger researchers take up the challenge of understanding better the causes and consequences of population ageing, both in Australia and overseas.
However, Ms Zhao does not share the gloomy outlook. “I think there is a lot to be optimistic about,” the 29 year old told a group of PhD students from leading universities in Australia and China, at a higher degree research (HDR) forum at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
While an extraordinary proportion of the global population will be 60 years and or older in the coming decades, the same people will also be highly familiar with high tech gadgetry, she says.
Technology from smart phones to DIY blood pressure monitors is already central to contemporary life and it’s only set to be more so. It is advanced technology, Ms Zhao says, that can provide support for the elderly as well as economic opportunities for those who develop it.
Ms Zhao is in Sydney to take part in the annual Go8-C9 HDR Forum, which is this year being hosted by UNSW. The forum brings together outstanding PhD students from leading universities in Australia and China, and this year’s theme is “global challenges of ageing”.
Students from both countries have shared their ideas on topics ranging from stroke prevention to use of text messages across age groups to designing bathroom products that can help older people maintain their independence.
Ms Zhao pointed to a GPS watch developed in her home town of Hefei, in Anhui Province, as one example of the sorts of technologies that can help older people and promote economic growth. The $80 watch has a GPS tracker, an SOS button that can notify family or emergency services of a fall, a pedometer to encourage exercise and you can apparently make a phone call on it.
Other high tech creations include home help robots that are being developed in Japan, a “dialogue table” that can talk back, designed by students in the UK, and a DIY health diagnostics system, designed in Italy, that can measure a range of systems, from kidney function to blood pressure.
“I have looked at technology designed for the elderly in more than 10 countries,” she says. Ms Zhao would like to see much more investment in technology aimed at the elderly as it will also benefit the economy.
Professor Fang Wu, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and UNSW Scientia Professor John Piggott, director of both the ARC Centre of Excellent in Population Ageing Research and the Australian Institute for Population Ageing Research, gave the forum’s keynote speeches.
Professor Wu spoke about potential new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases while Professor Piggott discussed ageing trends and social security policies across Asia.
“It’s vital that younger researchers take up the challenge of understanding better the causes and consequences of population ageing, both here and in China. And for that matter, around the world – ageing is global,” Professor Piggott says.
Ms Zhao agrees that we are all going to face old age. “No doubt. Our parents are experiencing it now and even our children will be old some day, too. So, let’s look into it. Let’s jump out of the negative thinking. Let’s look at the opportunities. There are a lot of things for us to do,” she says.
UNSW Professor Laura Poole-Warren, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Training, is the chair of the Go8-C9 forum’s Steering Committee.
“This type of conference is without a doubt a terrific way of developing global networks as well as contributing to solving interdisciplinary research challenges such as population ageing,” Professor Poole-Warren says.
Many Australian businesses within the seniors’ health and living sector are exporting their products and services to countries throughout Asia, the Pacific, Europe, America and Africa.
Australian businesses will reportedly be free to open aged care operations in China under the new Free Trade agreement.
China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Canberra recently to sign the ‘trade pact’, promising billions of dollars in new markets for Australian exporters.
With Australia’s health and aged care providers’ ability to operate directly in China, they are expected to “leapfrog” providers from Japan, the US and Europe that had been queuing to service the rapidly ageing Chinese population.
The recent launch of the Australian Seniors Health & Living Directory offers all countries the opportunity to consider Australian products and services to assist them to meet the needs of their ageing populations.
Complementing the Australian Seniors Health & Living Directory is www.seniorshealthexports.com.au – an online directory offering a key word search facility, as well as providing comprehensive information including contact information, branding, and links to websites, areas of industry expertise and a 100 word capability statement.
Both the Australian Seniors Health & Living Directory and website are published by DPS Publishing – publishers of DPS News – in collaboration with Austrade.
Find out more about exporting seniors' health and living products and services via the Seniors Health Exports website.
